Surmeneli, Nagy and Soluianova were the heroes of the semi-finals at the 64th Bocskai Memorial Tournament

The 26 semi-final bouts were taking place in the fourth competition day of the 64th edition of the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Debrecen. The best 26 female and male boxers advanced to the finals of the prestigious boxing tournament in Debrecen. Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli, Hungary’s Timea Nagy and Russia’s Svetlana Soluianova proved their very best in the day of the semi-finals.

The following nations are taking part in the 64th Bocskai Memorial Tournament: Austria, Belarus, Botswana, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales. Four out of the five Confederations sent boxers to the traditional event which launched in 1956 which makes it one of the oldest European tournaments.

Bout of the day

France’s Victor Yoka has got strong family connections to our sport who is aiming for a place at the middleweight (75kg) in the national team to compete in the European Olympic Qualification Event. The 22-year-old French had strong shots in the first round against Georgia’s Giorgi Kharabadze but his Caucasian opponent did not give up the fight and his second round was a tough one. Yoka was able to keep his advantage until the end of the last gong due to his great finish and best opening. The French boxer will be boxing for the gold medal with Ireland’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 20-year-old Gabriel Dossen.

Surprise of the day

Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist and ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Marina Volnova returned to the world of boxing after a few years of break and advanced to the semi-finals in the Bocskai Memorial Tournament. The experienced Kazakh middleweight (75kg) boxer had to meet with another veteran Hungary’s Timea Nagy who has been attending in the international events since 2006. The Kazakh boxer was smaller than her Hungarian rival and did not find the best fighting distance especially in the first and third rounds which meant Nagy eliminated her top rival.

The Round-up

Russia’s Sofia 2018 EUBC European Champion Svetlana Soluianova has been fighting to regain her place at the women’s flyweight (51kg) to attend in the upcoming European Olympic Qualification Event. The 25-year-old Russian eliminated Hungary’s teenage talent Tamara Tarnoczy on Day3 and continued her winning path in the next competition day. The Russian boxer used her longer reach against Serbia’s Nina Radovanovic which is her best weapon and advanced to the final of the flyweight (51kg) proving her strong potential in the upcoming events this year.

Russia’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Liudmilla Vorontsova had a difficult battle against Turkey’s 18-year-old Aycan Guldagi in the quarter-finals of the featherweight (57kg) and met in the semi-finals with Hungary’s top female boxer Szabina Szucs. Following the first tactical round, the Russian boxer increased her tempo and caught Szucs in the beginning of the second period. The Hungarian boxer adopted the rhythm of the contest but Vorontsova controlled well enough their semi-final to join to the final where she will be meeting with India’s Manisha Moun.

Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli eliminated Russia’s Saadat Dalgatova in the semi-finals of the Ulan-Ude 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and the two stars had to meet each other once again in the Bocskai Memorial Tournament. The 21-year-old defending AIBA Women’s World Champion Surmeneli was never stop attacking in their semi-final bout but Dalgatova also approved her rhythm which made the bout spectacular. The younger Turkish boxer was able still increase her tempo in the second round and controlled that period. Surmeneli’s jabs stopped the Russian attacks and won their world class semi-final by unanimous decision.

In the next Turkey vs. Russia battle in the semi-finals of the women’s middleweight (75kg) Sennur Demir had to meet with Russia’s two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Zenfira Magomedalieva who also won her fight on Day3 by RSC. The Turkish and the Russian boxers both moved down two weight classes in the recent one year due to the chance to the Olympic Games. The Russian boxer dictated the tempo and bowed out her main rival in the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Debrecen.

Hungary’s former EUBC European Youth Champion Roland Galos moved down to the bantamweight (57kg) in the recent half year which is better for his height and physical condition. The 24-year-old Hungarian, who trains with his coach father, eliminated Botswana’s George Molwantwa in the quarter-finals but he needed to do an extra performance to beat India’s 2016 AIBA Youth World Champion Sachin Siwach Singh in the last four. Galos will be facing for the gold medal with France’s Samuel Kistohurry who bowed out Kazakhstan’s 21-year-old Aydos Arapov in the second semi-final.